Welcome to 2013, a new Triathlon year

The Cork Tri Club will meet Thursday, February 7^th at 8pm in Flannery’s pub, Glasheen Road to celebrate the start of the new Triathlon season. CTC members and prospective members are encouraged to come along for the social occasion, the first of many in 2013. You’ll be briefed on CTC’s plans for the year ahead in terms of training and activity weekends. Questions and feedback from members will be most welcome.

For those interested in joining, this is an ideal opportunity to find out what CTC is all about. You’ll get to hear about races, training and club activities. If you’re new to Triathlon, don’t worry, we’ll explain what’s involved and how to get started. The atmosphere at CTC is friendly, encouraging and very positive towards new members, so why not come along and meet us!

To find out more, visit our website www.corktri.com

Get Ready to ROCK Dublin!

There’s a new race in town, and it’s sure to be a solid gold hit! Mark your calendars for Monday, August 5th, 2013 as the first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Dublin Half Marathon takes to the city centre streets. This is the first time this event has ever come to Ireland – 10,000 athletes will complete the 13.1 mile course around Dublin City Centre while being entertained by live bands along the way.

Members should note that this event also incorporates the AAI Half Marathon Championships of Ireland.

Event Details:

Date: Monday, August 5^th, 2013

Distance: 13.1 Miles (Half Marathon)

Online Registration Closes: July 29, 2013

(*Registration will be available at the Health & Fitness Expo on the 3^rd/4^th August at the Burlington Hotel)

Age Limit: Participants must be 18 or over

Entry Fees:

• €46– 1 November, 2012 – 30 April, 2013
• €49– 1 May, 2013 – 29 July, 2013
• €55 — at Expo (if available)

*Athletics Ireland members receive an automatic €2 discount upon registering, simply click the “Half Marathon- Athletics Ireland Members” option.

The Entry Fee includes:

• Scenic City Centre Course highlighting Dublin’s famous sites
• An Official Brooks Technical T-shirt
• Fantastic Finishers Medal
• Race Pack including; timing tag, race number & various other goodies
• Access to Health & Fitness Expo
• Live Entertainment along the route
• Access to Finish Line Festival and concert

Registration is now OPEN

A belated very happy new year to all our members. The club chairman has instructed me to remind our members (see details below) that club subscriptions are now due for 2013. You can pay your subscription to any committee member at the club training sessions. Your subscription covers the cost of track rental, AAI insurance, AAI registration, entry to AAI competition, subsidised transport, food & entertainment, and a myriad of other operating expenses. But, most importantly, it entitles you to be a member of St. Finbarr’s A.C.

Chairman:  Jerry, I’m gonna keep you as registrar, but this is what you gonna do for me. You listenin’, Jerry?
Jerry:  Just tell me what can I do for you, Chairman?
Chairman:  It’s a very, very important thing. Hell, it’s a club motto. Are you ready, Jerry?
Jerry: I’m ready.
Chairman:  Here it is: Show me the money. Oh-Yeah! SHOW! ME! THE! MONEY! Right on! Doesn’t it make you feel good just to say that! Say it with me one time, Jerry. 
Jerry: Show you the money. 
Chairman:   No, no, no. You can do better than that, Jerry! I want you to say it with meaning. Hey, I got a whole load of candidates waiting in line; I’ll bet they can all say it!
Jerry: Yeah, I mean no. Show you the money. 
Chairman:   No! Not show you! Show me! 
Jerry: Show me the money! 
Chairman:   Yeah! Louder Jerry! 
Jerry: Show me the money! 
Chairman:  I need to feel you, Jerry! 
Jerry: Show me the money! 
Chairman:  Jerry, you got to yell that stuff! 
Jerry: SHOW ME THE MONEY! SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Chairman:   Do you love the BARRS man?
Jerry: I love the BARRS man. Show me the money!
Chairman:   I love BARRS people. 
Jerry: I love BARRS people! 
Chairman:   Who’s your pheasant plucker, Jerry?
Jerry: You’re my pheasant plucker! 
Chairman:   Whatcha gonna do, Jerry? 
Jerry: SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Chairman:   Congratulations Jerry, you’re still registrar.

Remember, I’m out here for YOU. YOU don’t know what it’s like to be ME out here for YOU. It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that I can never fully tell you about. Anyone else would have left YOU by now, but I’m sticking with YOU. But if you want to be in St. Finbarr’s A.C., you’ve gotta SHOW ME THE MONEY!

The Munster Senior Cross Country Championships, among others, will take place on Sunday 13th January 2013 at Limerick Racecourse. The Juvenile Relays will commence at 11.30am followed by Junior Women, Junior Men, Senior Women & Senior Men’s races in that order. Athletes intending to participate in these championships must be registered (paid-up) club members for 2013. Please text or email your entries to the competition secretary [compsec@stfinbarrsac.com] as soon as possible.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve runners running
…….
…….
And an entry to a Senior XC

The Christmas season is quickly drawing to a close. Time to put all those new year’s resolutions into good practice, time to draw the curtain on the season of lethargy and over overindulgence. The upcoming Munster Senior XC is an ideal opportunity to stretch those legs and trim those budding waists. I trust the spectre of a mid-winter trip to Limerick shall not put our members out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt your houses pleasantly and none wish to forgo it!

All athletes participating in these championships must be registered (paid-up) club members for 2013. No individual (Relay excluded) entries will be accepted on the day of competition. The closing date for receipt of entries is Friday, 28th of December 2012, so please text or email your entries to the competition secretary [compsec@stfinbarrsac.com] as soon as possible.

Programme of Events – click here

General Notes:

• Club tops must be worn.
• Guests can participate but must be registered.
• Eligible athletes can compete either junior / U23 / senior in the individual events but not both. i.e. an athlete is either junior / U23 / senior / masters for the day (no chopping and changing).
• Eligible athletes may move up or down category to participate in a relay but may compete in only one relay.
• 200m & 400m results will be decided based on times.

Masters Indoor Championships:

• Categories for Men & Women O35, O40, O45, O50. etc.
• Masters athletes can only compete in 4 individual events on the day of competition but can enter as many events as they want.
• For shot, long jump & weight for distance – best of 4 attempts.
• Inter Club Relay for O35 and Older.
• Inter County Relay for O50 men/O45 Women. 

Munster Star Award Winners 2012

The Munster Star Awards Banquet 2012 will take place on Saturday 26th January 2013 in the Rathkeale House Hotel, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. Tickets are €35 each & can be purchased from Mossie Wolfe or Anne Cullinane. For accomodation, please contact the Rathkeale House Hotel on 069 63333 (quoting reference “Munster Awards”). Among the Munster Star Award Winners for 2012 was St. Finbarr’s A.C. with awards in two categories. Congratulations to all award winners.

Cross Country Awards
Novice Women – Martina Kiely, St. Finbarr’s A.C.

Cross Country / Road Club Awards
Overall Senior Club X-Country & Road – St. Finbarr’s A.C.

The St. Finbarr’s A.C. annual Christmas Run will be on Monday, December 17th at 6.15pm from the top of the Mardyke. On the way, we’ll  be stopping off at Rendezvous Bar to enjoy a hot something or other. According to tradition, the last one back picks up the tab.

We’ve booked the Pavilion at the Mardyke Cricket Grounds to hold our 2012 Christmas Party. The Hall, Bar and Kitchen are reserved exclusively for our members to eat, drink, dance and be merry. There’ll be plenty of finger licking good food and good music with the usual medal presentation sandwiched somewhere in between. If you haven’t already done so, please let Maria (0860226850) know if you are planning to attend. The Friday evening training session at the UCC Mardyke track will go ahead as usual, so Friday the 14th is shaping up to be an eventful evening for the BARRS. See you there!!!

The Christmas festive season is well under way as we countdown the remaining days of 2012 and look forward to a fruitful 2013. The Adamstown Novice XC last Sunday was the last official T&F engagement of 2012. With a four week hiatus until the indoors in January, what better way to keep the BARRS uppermost in your thoughts that to decorate your Desktop and/or Laptop with your favourite club colours?  Just click on either of the images below (Adoration of the Kings or Christmas Snowman), right click on the expanded image and select the “Set as background” option. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all our members and friends.

AAI Novice Adamstown 2012 Site

The AAI National Novice & Juvenile UA XC Champs will take place on Sunday, 09-Dec-2012, hosted by Adamstown A.C., Co. Wexford. The Juvenile events get under way at 11.30am with the Novice Women up at 2.45pm and the Men at 3pm. Do allow time for some slippage either way! The championship course is on the lands of Gavin & Stuart Rothwell and has hosted Leinster Cross Country Championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Please remember to keep the site litter free and bring any rubbish away with you. As with the Curragh last year, this course appears to be relatively flat, so you can expect the Novice races to be fast and furious.

AAI Novice Adamstown 2012 Course - click here

Women’s Novice 4000m (2.45pm) : 1 x Lap B + 2 x Lap A

Men’s Novice 6000m (3pm) : 4 x Lap A

Registration is the Paul Berry Sports Medicine & Physiotherapy Centre across the road from the Course and just a short walk up from St. Abban’s church. Race numbers must be collected and signed for here, BEFORE entry to the course. Race numbers should be collected at least 45 minutes before the start of a race. The Berry Sports Medicine Centre in partnership with Athletic Therapy Ireland will be offering free post race massage for athletes at the Registration Centre as well as hot showers and changing facilities. Sports injury assessment and biomechanical analysis will be available at special discounted rates. Showers and changing facilities are also available in the Adamstown Community Centre, which features a 700m Warm-up/Cool-down track. Ample parking is available close to the course, both for private cars and coaches.

 Adamstown 2012 Facilities – click here

Registration (+52° 23' 41.42", -6° 43' 13.88")

The National Novice & Juvenile UA Cross Country Championships 2012 are hosted by Adamstown A.C. The XC course is in the village of Adamstown, in central Co. Wexford. It is situated 12 miles from New Ross, 13 miles from Enniscorthy and 14 miles from Wexford town. From Cork, take the N25/E30 route by-passing Waterford (Tolled), onwards through New Ross towards Wexford and take a left onto the R735 at Carrigbyrne, continuing straight into Adamstown village. All routes to the event will be signposted from the N25 and the N30.

AAI Novice Adamstown 2012 Map

Google Maps Coordinates: 52.394838,-6.720521

(Open Google Maps, copy the above numbers, paste into the search box and hit enter)

Adamstown A.C. will be offering Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Hot Soup, Sandwiches, and Homemade Confectionary & Fruit for sale on the course and in St. Abban’s Ballroom beside the course. All the proceeds from catering will go towards Adamstown A.C. Club Development Fund, so your spend will be supporting the local grassroots athletics. Many thanks to our friends at Adamstown A.C. for the provision of information relating to the course and the local facilities and the very best of luck to everybody on the day!

AAI Novice Adamstown 2012 Finish

Late Update
Adamstown A.C. advises athletes/spectators to allow an extra 30min travel time to the Championships, to allow for minor traffic delays, parking and a maximum 10/15min walk to registration and course. A traffic plan will be in operation – a one way system in and out of the Adamstown village. We ask visitors to cooperate fully with our parking stewards who are working in the athlete’s best interest, to ensure a smooth and efficient running of the day.

David Matthews - Two-time Olympian & Personal Trainer

David Matthews, two-time Olympian and Irish 800m record holder, will conduct an hour long Q&A session on athletics performance, motivation and training at the County Board meeting room at CIT on Wednesday, December 5^th from 6.45pm. David Matthews is an Irish former middle-distance runner specialising in the 800m. Born in 1974 in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, he attended University College, Dublin (UCD) and his career in athletics was nurtured and encouraged by the late Noel Carroll, Athletics Coach, and the late Dr Tony O’Neill, Sports Director at UCD. At his favoured distance, he won consecutive national titles outdoors in from 1994 to 1997 and indoors from 1993 to 1995. He won the bronze medal at the 1993 European Junior Championships, reached the semi-final stage at the Atlanta Olympics (1996) and the heats of the Sydney Olympics (2000). David Matthews is the current Irish record holder at 800m and 1000m outdoors. In 2011, David was appointed fitness coach of Cork GAA’s senior hurling team.

Newmarket on Fergus Show (+52° 46' 32.40", -8° 54' 33.21")

The Munster Juvenile B & Masters XC Champs take place on Sunday 02^nd of December 2012 in Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare starting from 12pm. It’s customary for the Juveniles to go off first, with the Masters Men’s and Women’s races starting around 2pm. However, do allow for some slippage either way!

Women’s Masters 4000m

Men’s Masters 7000m

The Masters categories are O35, O40, O45… There’s an O35 & O50 club competition for Masters Men and O35 & O45 for Masters Women. An athlete can only score for one team, i.e. cannot be a member of an O35 & O45/50 team. This is the penultimate XC event of 2012 with only the National Novice to come on the 9^th of December. Last year’s Munster Masters was held in the environs of Limerick Racecourse. Notable results were a 3^rd place position for the BARRS Men at O50, while the CORK Men won the O40 team prize.

Munster Masters XC 2012 Venue

 Google Maps Coordinates: 52.775666,-8.909225

(Open Google Maps, copy the above numbers, paste into the search box and hit enter)

The venue is the site of the Newmarket on Fergus Show. Travelling from Limerick on the N18/E20, head out past Bunratty and northwards onto the M18 for Newmarket on Fergus. To avoid the village, go past the exit for Newmarket on Fergus (Exit 10), and take the next exit for QUIN (Exit 11). The venue will be signposted from here. Basically, you’re making a U-Turn and heading back towards Newmarket on Fergus on the R458.

It may be difficult to get parking near the venue while the kids races are in progress. The venue is very exposed with little or now natural shelter. Check the weather forecast on the day and in the event of rain, have an umbrella, a pair of wellies and something waterproof to keep your clothers dry. Better still, leave the clothes in the car and hop over the wall. The start line isn’t too far from the main road. Good luck all!